I’m self-employed now, and while I love the freedom of working at my own business, there are things I miss about working for an employer. Often, employers offer work perks that enhance your employment experience and inadvertently increase your salary and marketability. Here are my favorite work benefits:
Continuing Education
I worked at a community college for ten years. One thing I loved about the job is that my employer had a public pay scale based on years worked and education obtained. At a glance, you could see how much everyone in the college made and how much your salary could increase if you achieved further education.
The college paid for up to 60 hours of graduate school continuing education. During my time there, I took advantage of the program and earned an additional 60 hours beyond my master’s degree. Not only did the college pay for me to do this, but they increased my salary twice—once when I reached 30 additional hours and again when I got 60 extra hours. As I worked at the company longer, I also received raises for the length of time employed.
If your employer offers to pay for your education, take advantage and let them.
Retirement Match
A retirement match is one of the best fringe benefits of many jobs. If you have one, take advantage of it, at least up to the amount the employer matches. When I worked, I was required to put aside eight percent of my income for retirement, but my employer matched that eight percent. I could save 16 percent of my income in retirement, but I only put in eight percent! That’s a fantastic deal you should take advantage of if you have the option.
Even better, when I left the job, I could take both my contributions and my employer’s with me.
Health and Wellness
Finally, look at the health and wellness benefits your employer offers. Many companies provide five to ten free therapy sessions should you need a counselor’s help. For some people, those free sessions are all they need or can afford.
My employer did not offer access to gym facilities, but many do. A gym can cost $30 or more per month, so if you can get it for free, take advantage.
Likewise, my employer offered a discount on health insurance if I took some health and wellness classes, which I did. Other employers provide their employees free access to a nutritionist. (Mine did not, but I would have gone if they did.)
Final Thoughts
When I first began my job, my pay was dismally low. However, the work perks of continuing education helped me advance my career and receive significant pay raises. The retirement match gave me an excellent retirement savings foundation. Thankfully, these fabulous benefits offset the low pay in the early years.
Dig through your employee handbook and discover what free perks your employer offers. Take advantage of as many as you can, which will inadvertently increase your pay from your job.
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Melissa Batai
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her reading a good book, cooking, or traveling. She resides in New York where she loves the natural beauty of the area.
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